1. What experiences led to the American Revolution?
WTP 2: Unit 2 Lesson 7

2. Objective Students will be able to:
Explain how constitutional government developed in the colonies.
Explain why colonists decided to fight for their independence.

3. Which ideas did colonists in America use to create their governments?
Charter – legal document from king to start a colony.
Most charters said little about government, so they were to:
Protect colonists from abuse by British government
Protect colonists from abuse by local government.

4. All Colonial Governments included the following ideas
To protect Natural Rights
Representative government in colony
ex. Virginia House of Burgesses 1619
Rule of law
Separation of power  3 branches
- executive  governor
- legislative  All but one followed the model of parliament (two houses)
- judicial  judges appointed by governor
Checks and Balances

5. Why did the British government tighten control over the colonies?
For most of colonial history, Britain didn’t care because:
too busy with war in Europe
Long distance slowed communication
Neglect leads colonies to autonomy.
- After expensive war, Parliament raises taxes on both Britain and colonies.

6. What was the colonial perspective of tightened control over the colonies?
-“No Taxation Without Representation”
Colonies had no representation in Parliament  only colonial legislatures should be able to tax colonies.

7. What was the British perspective of tightened control over the colonies?
“Ungrateful children”
Taxes paid for safety/prosperity
Parliament did not represent individuals or specific areas but all British subjects, no matter where they lived.

8. How did the colonists resist British control?
Committees of correspondence: informed/ communicated between colonies
Sons of Liberty:
- Burning effigies of royal officials
Lynching tax collectors
Daughters of Liberty:
Boycott
Spun own yarn and linens
Gave up drinking tea

9. How did the colonists resist British control?
Boston Massacre, 1770
5 died
Convinced Americans that the British would use military force to make them obey the laws.
Boston Tea Party, 1773
-Response to Tea Act, tea into harbor
British Response: Close Boston Harbor

10. Simpson’s Moment
Burns: (showing Homer the Burns Hall of Patriots) That man is my great grandfather, Franklin Jefferson Burns, tossing that tea without a care...for what the caffeine would do to the Fenway flounder. Homer: Is that a fish? Burns: It was.

11. How did the colonists resist British control?
First Continental Congress 1774
Met in Philadelphia
Purpose: decide on the best response to British action
Members agreed to a self-imposed ban on trade with Great Britain.

12. How did the colonists resist British control?
Second Continental Congress, May 1775
Following the Battles of Lexington and Concord,
organized the Continental Army
appointed George Washington to lead the army
One year later, Congress appointed a special committee.

13. How did the colonists resist British control?
Congress asked a committee to draft a document explaining why the colonists felt it was necessary to free themselves from British rule.